Real-World Cases

The Teacher’s Computer

A local law enforcement computer forensic examiner is called in to investigate a middle school substitute teacher in his jurisdiction that was in possession of child pornography. Police learned from the suspect’s girlfriend during that this suspect had taken the job in the middle school because of his attraction to the girls attending the school. He was investigated, prosecuted, and ultimately convicted.

In the state system he would have been sentenced to probation. But because of the forensic evidence he was ultimately sentenced to 8 years in a federal penitentiary. This individual will be a sex offender for life, on lifetime supervised release. This means he can’t possess any pornography (child or otherwise), his computer is constantly monitored by U.S. probation, and law enforcement professionals could examine his computer at any time without warning to research the kinds of websites he is visiting and images saved on his computer. The lifetime supervised release sentence means that he could be sent back to prison for life if found guilty of any violation. The burden of proof is much less since it is not required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.